Long Distance Run

Twenty, twenty one miles, almost same thing. We met at 6:00 AM Sunday morning. Tried to get there a few minutes before and started walking to warm up the legs. We went for about six or seven miles and got back to RunningWild at seven AM. We met some other runners and went north for more miles so that we completed 21 miles at the end. My Achilles did not bother me this time. Something happened on Saturday when I was riding the bicycle for 15 miles. I felt a sudden relieve in the Achilles. My foot soles were kind of hurting after twenty miles. I was running in my old Brooks Cadence. Hopefully, I will not have these pains in the Saucony shoes.

We ran Mile 11 at sub 8:00 MM. Not sure why I was running this fast. Ben told me I don't need to go this fast during my long runs. Last week, Dan and I ran 10 miles at 9:00 MM exactly. I'd like to run my 26 miles on September 1st at 9:00 to 9:30 MM pace.

Vibram Five Fingers

Had a short conversation about VFF this morning. Learned that because runners do not wear socks with the VFF, shoes get pretty smelly. There was a new guy running in VFF with us this morning, John. We ran some Yasso's after a nice warm up run. He was challenging me and did a couple of 800's in 3:12 min. That was one of the fastest 800m I have ever ran. Interestingly, my Achilles were killing me at the beginning of the warm up. Fortunately, the pain almost went away after warming up (hint: warm up before your runs!).

I enjoyed running with others this morning, especially running next to a person who is trying his/her best. I get some extra energy from somewhere. Can't believe Kim is doing so many triathlons. Don't they get hurt? don't they need some recovery time? I guess x-training must build so many muscles makes a person pretty strong!

Cretzmeyer Track

Rode the bike to the track this morning and met Dan B and others (Kim S and Jamie I). Warmed up for a couple of laps and then did some stretching before we started running one lap intervals:

1. 400m, 1:30min
2. 400m, 1:30
3. 400m, 1:32
4. 400m, 1:32

Pretty consistent one lap intervals (that was a sub 6 MM pace). Ran most of the lap close to Dan, and then sprinted about 75 m before the finish line. Rested for a few minutes and did four more intervals:

1. 400m, 1:35min
2. 400m, 1:33
3. 400m, 1:35
4. 400m, 1:33

Again, I felt pretty good. Jamie I. gave me a good push in most of the intervals. We rested a little bit more, and then we ran two 200m intervals (close to 5 MM pace):

1. 200m, 38.5sec
2. 200m, 39.8

Rode the bike back home and still felt pretty good. Most probably the trip to Mexico gave me some pretty good rest and I was full of energy. I need to say these runners partners make all the difference. Couldn't have done any of these runs on my own. I am very thankful for being part of this running group.
I liked my chronos and wonder what they will look like in a real race?   Can I cut a few seconds off these times?

Fox Rental Mexico

Con el gran sueño de mostrar la ciudad donde nací y crecí a mi esposa e hijos, planee un viaje de una semana a la Ciudad de México. Por medio de Expedia-dot-com, hice reservaciones de un SUV para poderlos mover cómodamente y evitar taxis y otros medios de transporte.  Fox Rental me ofreció un SUV (Jeep-Liberty o similar) por una semana. Para sentirme más seguro, compre también un seguro para el auto.

Llegamos al aeropuerto de la Ciudad de México y pregunte por las oficinas de Fox Rental. Encontré a una sola empleada en la oficina, quien amablemente me atendió. Le mostré los papeles de la previa reservación y ella se puso a hacer una llamada telefónica. Después de varios minutos, me pregunto cuántos pasajeros iban a ser (no entendí porque me hacia este tipo de preguntas). Me dijo que me iba a dar un Jetta.  Yo le respondí que mi reservación era por un SUV, y que Fox Rental me había prometido un Jeep-Liberty o un SUV similar.  Ella simplemente me dijo, que ellos no manejaban Jeep-Liberties, y que su SUV similar era un Toyota Rav-4, pero pues, no tenían ninguno disponible, así que me iba a dar un Jetta (y que mi familia bien cabía en un Jetta). Después de preguntar a la señorita los diferentes precios y seguros de los autos, opte por tomar un Toyota-Corolla en lugar de rentar el Jetta por el precio del SUV prometido.

Así es como la pesadilla de este viaje ha empezado. No con los detalles como yo lo había yo planeado. No pude dormir mucho con todas las preocupaciones y ruidos a los cuales ya estoy desacostumbrado. El silbido de un tren a media noche, fuegos artificiales (parecidos a los de 4 de Julio en los EU) posiblemente de peregrinaciones a la virgen de Guadalupe.

Long Slow Distance

endurance: the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort of activity (Merriam Webster)

Did a 19 run in two sections. The first one was about 6 miles and the second one about 13 miles. We ran  from RW to my house and then Mormon Trek. We ran back the same route to RW and then we did the East Route. Ran with some pretty (tough) ladies. I cannot believe they have this endurance!  I am glad I did this long run.  I'd love to build my endurance. The first leg was run at a slow happy comfortable pace (9:15 MM). The second leg was faster pace because of the running group. 

I think being able to run 10 miles on a Sunday is perfectly fine. But, wouldn't it be nice if I could say the same thing about 16 miles or twenty miles?

Warm Iowa Days

It's only July 19 today nd the temperatures are going up. We did not cancel our interval workout on Wednesday evening. Surprisingly, new people showed up and they did not look like new runners. I think there was a 2:45, a 3:00, a 3:15, a 3:30 and a 3:34 group. The hot weather was bearable, but standing under the sun was dehydrating, to say the least. Surprisingly, our times did not go down too much.

Long Distance Sunday run

Got up early enough to prepare myself some toast with butter and marmalade before heading out to runningWILD. I was the first person to arrive to the store where other runners would show up in a few minutes. I was glad to see Jenn after running ten miles with her just yesterday. She said she wanted to log fourteen miles today. We stopped to drink water after two miles. Next stop was after four miles and then, we just ran three more miles before turning 180 degrees. I know the South Route very well after having ran it many times. I know well where the water stops are and where we need to turn around. I ran the second half a little bit faster. I am always impressed with the endurance of my fellow runners. Training the mind to do these long runs is so important. Knowing how long we will run and what it takes, makes it easier.